Partition structure



Dec. 22, 1953 5-: J, Ho L, JR 2,663,05

PARTITION STRUCTURE Filed April 10, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

jlda'zwzzdJbari BY Dec. 22, 1953 I F. J. HORIL, JR 2,663,054

PARTITION STRUCTURE Filed April 10, 1950 2H Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR lz'da'lamvd J. [70177, (/1:

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 22 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PARTITION STRUCTURE Ferdinand J. Horil, J r., New Orleans, La. Application April 10, 1950, Serial No. 154,963

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved structure for partitions, and more particularly for that type of partitions commonly employed in banks and in connection with large ofiice rooms where it is desired to maintain a clear View throughout the entire room but at the same time afford a modicum of privacy in booths defined by such partitions.

In connection with such partition structures it is important that the structure itself be light, I

of relatively thin dimensions and of unusual rigidity in order to maintain the proper alignment of the partition while at the same time minimizing the weight of the structural elements utilized.

The present invention is directed to an improved rail structure by means of which the spaced supporting posts or studs of the partition are held in true alignment, while at the same time the rail is of moderate size and provides an equally attractive finish on both sides of the partition.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

One sheet of drawings accompanies this specification as part thereof, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a section of partition constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal cross section taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4; and,

Figure 6 is an exploded view showing the various parts of the partition in perspective and separated from one another.

The present invention contemplates the utilization of a plurality of vertically spaced posts or studs l which are connected in any desired manner at the bottom and to the floor and which are preferably rabbeted on their confronting faces to provide grooves in which the lower panels of plywood or similar material can seat.

The present invention is directed to the novel rail 2 by which the upper portions of the posts I are associated to retain same in true longitudinal alignment. In connection with this rail 2 each of the posts I is provided with horizontally 2 aligned transverse grooves 12 preferably in each of its outside faces, which grooves provide connecting portions I I of reduced size and preferably of rectangular cross section.

The rails 2 are formed from two complementary portions 3 and 4, each of which rail sections is rabbet-ed longitudinally on one face so that the rail 3 is formed with rib or tongue 6 formed by the rabbett 5, while the rail portion 4 is formed with a tongue or bead 8 formed by the rabbet 1.

At spaced intervals corresponding to the spacing of the vertical posts I the rail members 3 and 4 are transversely grooved or notched through the tongues 6 and 8, respectively, to permit the rail members to meet snugly and embrace the reduced portions I l of the posts so that the rail members 3 and 4, being applied from opposite sides, join longitudinally with tongues B and 8 overlapped, as is well illustrated in Figure 5.

The lower face of the tongue 8 of rail member 4 is longitudinally grooved as at l8 to form a seat for the bottom panel 25.

The top face of the rail members when in assembled relationship are covered by a strip [6 extending between adjacent posts, the covering strip It being formed with a rabbet l1 adapted to seat the bottom edge of the plate glass or similar panel [5, and the upper portions of the posts I are similarly rabbeted on their confronting faces to provide seats for such panels l5.

In assembled relationship the associated rail members 3 and 4 are secured in associated position by screws 20 passing through the overlapped tongues 6 and 8, and into panel 25 below the heads of these screws 20 being covered in turn by the covering strip l6, and securing rail members 3 and 4 and panel 25 in locked position.

By reason of the structure thus described it will be apparent that the posts I are all securely interlocked and held in correct longitudinal alignment by the associated rail members 3 and 4, and that the entire partition is held to a very narrow Width, thus providing both strength and rigidity to the structure, while at the same time occupying little of the floor space.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Partition structure comprising, a plurality of spaced vertical posts of rectangular cross-section, each post having horizontally aligned and horizontally disposed grooves on opposite faces, the grooves of all the posts being horizontally aligned when the posts are in erected position, the confronting faces of the posts being longitudinally grooved medially above and below the plane of the horizontal grooves, a plurality of panels one between each pair of posts and having its side edges in the lower longitudinal grooves of adjacent posts, a horizontal rail vertically divided into complementary sections with the meeting faces stepped transversely to opposite sides of the vertical medial plane of the composite rail, at least one of said sections being rabbeted along its lower. inner'edge whereby a groove is formed in the-lower face of the rail when the sections of the rail are together, the groove in the rail being in the same vertical plane as the longitudinal grooves in the posts to receive the upper edges of the panels, said rail sections being notched on their inner faces to'receiveandisur-- round said posts when the rail sections are fitted within the horizontal grooves in said posts, se-

curing means passing vertically through the overlapping portions of the stepped joint in said rail'tosecure the sectionsof the rail together; 20

and cover strips on top of said rail extending between said posts to cover the line of juncture between the sections of said rail and the securing means for said rail.

2. In partition structure as claimed in claim 1, said cover strip being longitudinally grooved on its top surface in the vertical plane of the longitudinal grooves in said posts, and panels slidably mounted'irr the upper longitudinal grooves of said posts and seatedin! the longitudinal grooves in said cover strips,

FERDINAND J. HORIL, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,329,600 Hewitt Feb. 3, 1920 134503733 Reaugh Apr. 3, 1923 1,509,118 Torjesen- Sept. 23, 1924 

